The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-12-01
BOTTLES AND RAGS.

"You poor thing! yer too poor fur me to
'sociate with" broke in the girl, as she
drew her ragged skirt away with mock
pride.
"See here, Rags, you've alters ben
square with yer father. You've got sun
thin on yer mind. Jist tell me the hull
thing er-I'll cut you off with ten ceuts,
not ha vim the lar shillin'."
"Feast your eyes on that" said the girl,
holding out the hand which she had con-
cealed behind her.
The boy fell back a step or two as he
gazed upon the article which she held.
'Rags, hain't brought You up better
ner this? You, you who picked out the
gutterl Oh! it's sharper than a snakes
tail to have priggin' darter."
"But Ididn't prig the puss," quickly
exclaimed Rags.
"Ah! spoken like me own dutiful child.
say, Rags, is the puss well heeled?"
81 hain't looked; it's heavy, though,
and it jingles. 1 only found it while go
over on India wharf. run all the way
to find you"
Bottles took the purse in his hands. AS
he felt the magic touch of its contents
through the saken mesheS it drove all
thought of cold or hunger away.
In the purse was more money than
either had ever before touched. In it
was warmth and victuals, though Bottles
gave no thought to either, SO overjoyed
was he in the possession of the precious
money, real gold and silver, for he could
tell that by its blinking.
The two waits finally, cold and tired,
reached the tumble down structure in
South street, where they lodged. They
climbed up the rickety stairways, passed
through the narrow, dark and ill smelling
halls until they reached the attic door,
upon which Bottles tapped softly.
A small circular disk in one of the
upper panels slid back, and thin, beaB
like nose with pair of red trimmed eyes
appeared in the opening, as sharp, raspy
voice inquired:
"Who's there's
"Bottles and Rags, responded the boy
The door was opened and the pair passed
into the low, musty smelling room.
''Got 'nthingY' asked the raspy voiced
female.
'sNixy," returned the boy. The purse
| in his pocket seemed determined to jingle
| This would have been dire calamity; fol
/ the old woman would have pounced upor
| it like a hawk.
''And your" asked the woman, turning
| toward Rags.
The girl held her hands out, palms dow
| and open.
''Humph purity pair. No bottles, n,
rags; got nothin'l Can't stay here to
night"
ooh, yes, mammy-I forgot I've go
| a dime Can't you let US stay fur that?'
broke in Bottles.
"a dime! small huff I-well, gil m
! the money" said the woman.
Bottles laid the piece upon her out
stretched palm. She threw bag hoo
over her iron gray locks, and taking
noseless pitcher from the window sill
| went out.
"Good. She's gone fur beer. .Whel
| she drinks beer she sleeps, and when sh
| sleeps, we counts the contents of this puss
| Rags, / say, kid, we'll have daisy tim
| tomorrow Did you know tomorrow
| was the day fur dom big eatin'? It's
| regular hollerday, and all us rich coon
don't have to do nothin' but injoy ou1
| selves"
| ga hollerdayi will the band and th
'sRags, yer out of yer lattytude, as the
sailors down at the Hum SEE. To-mor
rows Thanksgiving, kid"
''What's that, Bottles?''
''The day set part for doin' big feedin'
sabes'
sYup,'' responded Rags.
81 say, Rags, did my one see you picl
it up-the pusss'
mo; jist seen it kinder jammed dow
| in big crack. / knoYed it was ducats